Mock NHL Draft: Sam Reinhart would make a fine selection for the Flames at fourth overall

Lack of consensus over which one of four top prospects are No. 1 means Calgary will be left with an obvious choice

Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice poses with his trophy after being named WHL Player of the Year. In this mock draft, the supreme talent winds up going to the Calgary Flames, where his famous father Paul Reinhart once played a starring role.

Photograph by: Larry MacDougal
, THE CANADIAN PRESS

Like many general managers in the National Hockey League, Brad Treliving is the calculated sort.

And, by his calculations, he has come up with nine different scenarios and combinations at how the first four selections in the 2014 NHL draft could play out.

Rest assured, the Calgary Flames are ready for prepared for anything that could happen this weekend when they are scheduled to select fourth overall at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center.

“It’s an interesting time because very seldom do you get a lack of consensus of who that No. 1,” Treliving was saying before he and his entourage took off earlier this week. “Because if there are no moves (up or down for Draft picks), who is No. 1? And not very often does the team holding the first pick talk about the potential of moving. Those are some of the dynamics.

“But whoever is there at four, we’ll have a nameplate and jersey for them.”

After bringing in top prospects like Aaron Ekblad, Sam Reinhart, and Sam Bennett for private visits, Treliving still subscribes to the theory: best asset available, regardless if he’s a defenceman, centreman, or winger.

“You have to stick to your list,” he said. “That’s why you do the homework. That’s why you try to get it right and put people in order. Because (the Draft order) gets going and you have to be able to react and to be calm with lots going on.”

The Flames, at the moment, are content with their current situation — drafting fourth overall, five picks in the first three rounds (4th, 34th, 54th, 64th, and 83rd), also the 165th and 184th selections — despite entertaining the idea of doing business with Florida which is willing to shop the first overall selection.

“There are scenarios (to move their fourth pick) but we’re not there yet,” Treliving said earlier this week. “To go up, again it comes back to the cost and the price. We’ve spent a lot of time talking to the teams around us and I think I have a good sense of what everyone is looking to do ... but, at the end of the day, if we pick No. 4, we’re real happy there.”

And here is the Calgary Herald’s annual guess for the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft.

*CSS = Central Scouting Service

*ISS = International Scouting Service

*THN = The Hockey News

1. Florida Panthers — D Aaron Ekblad (Barrie, OHL)

The total package. His maturity, shot, and size makes him NHL-ready tomorrow. There was a reason he was playing in the OHL at age 15.

CSS: 2; ISS: 2; THN: 2

2. Buffalo Sabres — LW Sam Bennett (Kingston, OHL)

Versatile, effective, and smart. The CHL’s top prospect of the year also has an edge to his game. A smooth skater and physical. Creates buzz and can make fans get out of their seats.

CSS: 1; ISS: 4; THN: 2

3. Edmonton Oilers — C Leon Draisaitl (Prince Albert, WHL)

A consistent contributor who can put up big numbers. But he’s a playmaker and he already has over 200 pounds on his six-foot-one frame. A complete player.

CSS: 4; ISS: 6; THN: 4

4. Calgary Flames — C Sam Reinhart (Kootenay, WHL)

Smartest player at the draft. Best known for his hockey sense and vision, he’s a two-way centre you can build a team around. Calgary hockey fans know first-hand what he can do when he led the Kootenay Ice to a first-round upset of the Hitmen this past spring.

CSS: 3; ISS: 3; THN: 3

5. New York Islanders — LW Michael Dal Colle (Oshawa, OHL)

Produces and isn’t afraid to go to the net. Can play the wing or up the middle and the Islanders could use some help in either position. Versatile and has a great hockey IQ.

CSS: 5; ISS: 3; THN: 5

6. Vancouver Canucks — William Nylander (MODO, SweE)

Skilled. Dynamic. Son of former NHL-er Michael Nylander. Smooth hands, great vision, and can set up scoring chances. Interviewed with 25 teams.

CSS: 2 (among European skaters); ISS: 5; THN: 6

7. Carolina Hurricanes — LW Nick Ritchie (Peterborough, OHL)

A Jamie Benn-type power forward. Needs consistency in his game. One of the toughest players in the draft. Mean with skill.

CSS: 7; ISS: 10; THN: 9

8. Toronto Maple Leafs — LW Nikolaj Ehlers (Halifax, QMJHL)

High-end skill with speed and a nose for the net. Slight and often overlooked on a team with Jonathan Drouin, he still dominated the QMJHL.

CSS: 13; ISS: 11; THN: 7

9. Winnipeg Jets — LW Jake Virtanen (Calgary, WHL)

Regarded as a pure goal scorer, the New Westminster, B.C., native isn’t shy about physical play. A superb release and shot. Hard to contain.

CSS: 6; ISS: 7; THN: 11

10. Anaheim Ducks — RW Kasperi Kapanen (Kalpa, Finland)

A two-way forward that comes from a family steeped in professional hockey (his father Sami played 12 NHL seasons). Played on a weak team and scored 14 points to lead the group.

CSS: 1 (among European Skaters); ISS: 13; THN: 10

11. Nashville Predators — LW Brendan Perlini (Niagara, OHL)

An elite skater that can stickhandle and shoot. Has a nice touch around the net. Plays well positionally and has potential to be a pure goal-scorer.

CSS: 8; ISS: 9; THN: 12

12. Phoenix Coyotes — D Julius Honka (Swift Current, WHL)

Won a gold medal with Sweden’s world junior team and should play a major role next season. A good skater. Potential to be an offensive defenceman. Scouts say they need him to get stronger and work on his defensive play.

CSS: 11; ISS: N/A; THN: 16

13. Washington Capitals — D Haydn Fleury (Red Deer, WHL)

One of the other highly-touted defencemen in the 2014 class. A puck-moving defenceman. Big, fluid, and mobile. Projected cornerstone defenceman.

CSS: 9; ISS: 12; THN: 8

14. Dallas Stars — C Jared McCann (Sault Ste. Marie, OHL)

Two-way centre. Strong offensive instincts. Quick release. A third-line guy who can be used in any situation.

CSS: 10; ISS: 17; THN: 15

15. Detroit Red Wings — LW Dylan Larkin (US NTDP)

Strong on the puck, no fear in front of the net, and a heart-and-soul forward. Well-rounded centre. Looks like a pro.

CSS: 17; ISS: 15; THN: 14

16. Columbus Blue Jackets — C Robby Fabbri (Guelph, OHL)

Speedy, shifty, and quick. Good hands. Good wheels. A competitor. A dynamic point producer.

CSS: 21; ISS: 8; THN: 20

17. Philadelphia Flyers — LW Kevin Fiala (HV 71, Sweden)

Smallish but strong. A great passer with quick hands. The Swiss-born winger played in Sweden last season. High-end creativity and skill.

CSS: 3 (among European skaters); ISS: 20; THN: 13

18. Minnesota Wild — RW Alex Tuch (USA under-18)

A Boston College commit, is a presence on the ice. Hard shot. Was dominant at the under-18’s for Team U.S.A. A power forward.

CSS: 12; ISS: 14; THN: 17

19. Tampa Bay Lightning — RW Nikita Scherbak (Saskatoon, WHL)

Elite offensive talent. High hockey IQ. A playmaker. The Russian was playing on a weak Saskatoon Blades team and had 78 points, nearly double the team’s next-highest producer.

CSS: 15; ISS: 27; THN: 18

20. San Jose Sharks — RW Jakub Vrana (Linkoping, Sweden)

Left home in the Czech Republic at 15 and lived by himself in Sweden. Speedy, a sniper, and was the Czech’s best scorer at the world under-18 tournament.

CSS: 4 (among European skaters); ISS: 21; THN: 19

21. St. Louis Blues — LW Sonny Milano (U.S. NTDP)

Became a YouTube sensation with his stick handling skills but his game is more than flash. A speedy, dynamic forward that has the ability to make things happen by himself.

CSS: 16; ISS: 16; THN: 24

22. Pittsburgh Penguins — C Adrian Kempe (MODO, Sweden)

Playing with Modo, he was relegated to a fourth-line role given his age and his surroundings. Compared to Magnus Paajarvi. Skates hard and has skill.

CSS: 6 (among European skaters); ISS: 22; THN: 29

23. Colorado Avalanche — C Ivan Barbashev (Moncton, QMJHL)

His passport is Russian, but he plays a game that’s well-suited for North America. Finishes checks, plays a complete game, and makes plays off the wall. A two-way forward that initiates contact.

CSS: 18; ISS: 19; THN: 22

24. Anaheim Ducks — RW Josh Ho-Sang (Windsor, OHL)

Pure talent, speed and skill. Made headlines in OHL playoffs when he made contact with London’s Zach Bell and caused him to break his leg. Some worry about his judgment on the ice but is, no doubt, an offensive threat.

CSS: 22; ISS: 18; THN: 27

25. Boston Bruins — G Thatcher Demko (Boston College, NCAA)

A true freshman this year, the California native won the starting job. Size and athleticism. Could be a franchise goalie.

CSS: 1 (among goalies); ISS: 1 (among goalies); THN: 28

26. Montreal Canadiens — D Travis Sanheim (Calgary, WHL)

An offensive defenceman. Draft stock rose dramatically after playing for Canada at the under-18’s. A big kid. Confidence is rising. Lots of upside.

CSS: 53; ISS: 30; THN: 21

27. Chicago Blackhawks — C John Quenneville (Brandon, WHL)

A solid point producer. Was one of the Wheaties’ top scorers in the regular season. Quietly goes about his business. A second cousin to Blackhawks head coach Joel.

CSS: 23; ISS: n/a; THN: 36

28. Tampa Bay Lightning (from NYR) — D Roland McKeown (Kingston, OHL)

A future top-four defenceman. Logged big minutes in junior and has a good shot. Played for Doug Gilmour’s Kingston Frontenacs.

CSS: 27; ISS: 23; THN: 26

29. Los Angeles Kings — C/RW Conner Bleackley (Red Deer, WHL)

Less flash and dash. All heart. Plenty of intangibles. The captain of the Red Deer Rebels and High River, Alta., product is a longtime fan of the Colorado Avalanche.

CSS: 35; ISS: 26; THN: 30

30. New Jersey Devils — C Nick Schmaltz (Green Bay, USHL)

Dynamic with quick hands. One of the top scorers in the USHL. Was named the MVP of the world junior ‘A’ tournament. Bound for the University of North Dakota in 2014-15, joining his brother Jordan (A 2012 pick of the St. Louis Blues).

Story Tools

Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice poses with his trophy after being named WHL Player of the Year. In this mock draft, the supreme talent winds up going to the Calgary Flames, where his famous father Paul Reinhart once played a starring role.

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